Mets win, take advantage of Marlins errors

Sep 22, 2007 - 5:45 AM
MIAMI (Ticker) -- The struggling New York Mets took advantage
of some sloppy defense by the Florida Marlins to get a
much-needed win.

The Mets scored eight unearned runs on six errors as the Mets
defeated the Marlins, 9-6, in a rain-soaked game on Friday
night.

With the win, the Mets (85-68) remained 1 1/2 games ahead of the
Philadelphia Phillies (84-70) in the National League East. The
Phillies had beaten the Washington Nationals, 6-3, on Friday.
It was just the second win in their last eight games for the
Mets, who had a seven-game division lead on September 12.

"Good teams need to do that," Mets first baseman Carlos Delgado
said. "They kicked the ball around a bit and we got big hits and
took advantage."

Luis Castillo snapped a 3-3 tie with a two-out, RBI bloop single
to center in the top of the fourth inning and Carlos Beltran
and Jose Reyes added two-run singles for New York, which has won
seven of eight games at Dolphin Stadium this year.

New York scored three runs in the third inning, three in the
fourth and two more in the fifth - all unearned - to erase an
early 3-0 deficit. Marlins first baseman Mike Jacobs made
errors in the third and fifth inning, and third baseman Miguel
Cabrera made errors in the third and fourth inning, all of which
proved to be crucial.

"It's part of the game," Jacobs said. "Those things happen and
it's not from lack of effort. You obviously don't want to make
that many errors in the game. We're better than that."

The Florida miscues made a winner out of Mets starter Pedro
Martinez (3-0), who surrendered four runs - three earned - in
five innings, but did not return after a 2 hour, 21 minute rain
delay. He gave up eight hits and two walks but struck out
seven.

"I felt pretty good with all the pitches," Martinez said. "I was
missing a little bit more than normal with the fastball. I
thought a couple of the pitches were close, but I'm not
whining."

Three relievers bridged the gap to Scott Schoeneweis pitched a
perfect 1 1/3 innings with three strikeouts for his first save
of the season. He filled in for regular closer Billy Wagner,
who was out with back spasms.

Cabrera had three hits and two RBI for the Marlins, who have
lost five of six.

The Marlins got on the board early when Cabrera doubled to left,
scoring Dan Uggla from first to give Florida a 1-0 lead in the
first inning. They extended the lead to 3-0 in the second
inning on Miguel Olivo's RBI single and Hanley Ramirez's
sacrifice fly.

The Mets came back to tie it in the top of the third inning with
some help from the shaky Florida defense. With a runner on
second and two outs, Marlins first baseman Jacobs dropped the
throw from Ramirez to allow David Wright to reach base.

After a passed ball by Olivo scored one run, Beltran reached
when his hit went past Cabrera at third base to make the score,
3-2. Moises Alou followed with an RBI single to center to tie
score at 3-3. The single extended Alou's hitting streak to 25
games, which is a New York Mets franchise record.

"We didn't help ourselves defensively," Marlins manager Fredi
Gonzalez said. "I thought (Olsen) pitched Ok. He didn't get any
help. It was just one of those days. I'm glad it's over."

Martinez got out of a key jam in the bottom of the third to keep
the game tied at 3-3. With the bases loaded and one out,
Martinez struck out Cody Ross on a 3-2 pitch and then struck out
Olivo looking to end the threat.

"I believe that was the turning point," Martinez said. "Getting
the key outs in a key situation, I got my teammates motivated.
That's what we needed. Not only a turn around for the game, but
a turn around for the way we were playing."

New York scored two more unearned runs in the top of the fifth
after Jacobs booted a ground ball to first for his second error
of the game. With two outs, Reyes lined a two-run single to
left field to stretch the Mets lead to 8-3.

The six errors made by Florida is a franchise record. The Mets
made 10 errors in two games, setting a franchise record on
Sunday and Monday earlier this week.